Ticks

Ems*Honie

Morning,

I have tried to search but it wouldn't

I', hoping someone can help. We have a large infestation of Ticks (both children have had them, and I took at least 20 off the dogs face Sat night) With the disease they carry I am considering having the garden chemically treated (I know they do this in USA but haven't spoken to our local firm yet) My moneysaving dilema is that I'm an organic gardener, and all my seeds are just getting ready to be put out. Does anyone know of a natural way at least to get rid of them, otherwise the extra money I paid out on organic seeds will be wasted.

thank you.

Strepsy

Oh dear, what a problem :S I have absolutely no idea so won't even hazard a guess but you might be best asking on the River Cottage forum. There's a lot of smallholders on there and they may have come across the problem.

River Cottage forum

Ems*Honie

Seems like a problem not many people have had to deal with, so far the only suggestions has been Guinea fowl, but they're just not practical here

scbk

What about just cutting back the plants they're hiding on?

Oh and best way to take them off skin is using a tick removal tool, pulling them off with your fingers etc or burning them off is a lot more risky re: the diseases

nickj_2

how about using the nematode worm , i know it's used for wiping out various pests in the garden , not sure if it would work on ticks tho

lil_me

http://www.soilassociation.org have you tried asking them ? Might be worth a try. I know it's usually a chemical treatment used, begins with a P, I remember my Aunty having to get hers done, but like you said would be a shame when you've gone to the expense of organic.

Sharra

I remember from my vet nursing days that you have to twist them one way or the other to remove as the screw themselves in - can't remember which way tho.
Covering them with vaseline makes them drop off too as they can no longer breathe.

heather38

i don't know about getting rid of them but they like evergreen plants like conifers, try planting citronella . this repels fleas so might help with ticks

Ems*Honie

Thanks for the great replies!! WE have a whole tonne of evergreen oak down where they are! Will buy in some cittronella (even if just for the fleas!) and will try some other suggestions.

We have already cut the garden back loads, it was totally overgrown when we moved here, in fact you wouldn't have known the bottom half of the garden was there!!

Thanks

Strepsy

Oh dear, I notice they're telling you to move house now on River Cottage. lol.

I've just remembered a tip someone gave me when the cat had fleas. It was to put out some boiling water in a bowl because the fleas recognise the heat as being something living and jump in and drown themselves. You could maybe try that? Or try a few in different places, see how it goes. And I guess just make their habitat as uninhabitable as possible, don't let them keep cosy corners or whereever it is the majority of them are. Sticky fly tape? It's going to be trial and error, I guess not many have come across the problem.

tomterm8

Have a look at http://www.stopticks.org/prevention/index.asp ...
http://www.my-dog.co.uk/dealing_with_fleas_ticks_lice.htm